The Evolution of F1 Steering Wheels

The steering wheel. It’s the primary means of controlling of our cars, yet one of the most overlooked in terms of design. In general, the steering wheels in daily drivers have been largely the same for decades, with the only real changes being the addition of some buttons, and maybe heat. But Formula One race cars have given way more thought to their steering wheels over the years, as they have gradually decreased in size, but increased in complexity. These days, the array of buttons and dials on an F1 steering wheel are about as complex as the controls of a fighter jet.

With the help of the Racing Hall of Fame Collection, the guys at Donut Media take us on a journey through the evolution of these steering wheels, from their early days back in the 1950s, all the way up to today’s latest high-tech controllers.

Check out the video below for a cool look at this component that plays a critical role in not just steering, but overall vehicle control, throttle mapping, energy management, communications, and safety.